Wednesday, July 25, 2012

AURORA, CO (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) One of the victims of the Colorado movie theater shooting took to Facebook on Tuesday to share a photo of a surprise visitor.

Carey Rottman, a Wisconsin native who played football at Winona State in Minnesota, received a visit from "The Dark Knight Rises" star Christian Bale.

TMZ reports Bale visited the hospital around 4 p.m. on his own. He was not representing Warner Brothers during the trip.

Christian Bale was in the Denver metro area Tuesday to meet
with victims of the Aurora theater shooting.
In this photo released by Swedish Medical Center in Englewood,
Colorado, via Twitter, Bale meets with Swedish staff members.
(Swedish Medical Center)

Rottman's father has previously told the Associated Press that his 27-year-old son was expected to undergo another round of surgery on Tuesday or Wednesday. It will take about one year for Rottman to fully recover.

Bale also visited with six other victims of the mass shooting, as well as the first responders who were on the scene shortly after a shooter began firing into the crowded theater, reports the Denver Post.

Bale asked that the media not be notified about his trip to Aurora.

Christian Bale, who stars in
"The Dark Knight Rises," and his wife, Sibi Blazic,
on Tuesday afternoon visit a growing
memorial to victims of the Aurora theater
massacre, which left 12 dead and 58 wounded.
The couple also spent time at Medical Center of Aurora.
(Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post)

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

OXFORD — One year — nearly to the day — after the Maine Board of Environmental Protection issued a permit granting development of the Oxford Casino, the permit was nullified by Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy.

“The law is pretty clear that without a permit they can’t operate. And, presumably, if the department (DEP) doesn’t shut them down, the Gambling Control Board will.”

According to the suit, “in its rush to permit the casino project, the applicant (BB Development) failed to conduct the studies necessary to affirmatively demonstrate that either Phase I or the full project proposal meets legal standards.” And, that rather than “correct these errors and omissions, the department (BEP) actually accelerated the permitting process,” granting the permit in “less than half of the 180-day statutory review period, despite ongoing staff concerns regarding the lack of data,” violating state law and its own rules in the process by not considering cumulative environmental impact of the entire project when complete.

Maine's radio news team including news director, Dave Alpert; reporter, Ed Fairbanks and Augusta chief, Mal Leary have provided the following which you can hear:

The Oxford Casinowill remain open, despite a court decision that nullifies its Department of Environmental Protection site permit. The DEP says it will follow a judge's order and reopen the permit review process, but won't pursue closing down the casino. Attorney Stephen Hinchman, representing the Androscoggin River Alliance, which challenged the DEP's granting of the permit, says the DEP is now violating state law by allowing the casino to continue to operate. Hear him.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

WESTON, Mass. -- A Weston family got a big surprise in their backyard when they looked outside and found a wandering pack of coyote pups.
Mom Jill Lenhardt couldn't believe it.
“When I first came home, they were here before I came home and Lisa, our babysitter, sent me a couple pictures over texts and I was like, ‘Stay inside!’” said Lenhardt.
One was even bold enough to venture up onto their deck.
“The far corner of the deck right outside. These guys saw them, the coyote, right there. Just right outside the family room just standing there and sitting around scratching himself,” Lenhardt said.
The kids were excited, snapping away some up close and personal pictures of the baby coyotes.
And even though they look cute and cuddly, there is still the element of danger.
“So then when I got home, I was looking at them I just thought they were really cute. Because they really are cute but we also have had a lot of conversations with the boys about safety,” Lenhardt said

PORTLAND, Maine -- Reports of blue, orange, yellow and other odd-colored lobsters used to be a rarity.

But these days, it's common to hear several stories a month about a lobsterman bringing one of the quirky crustaceans to shore.

Scientists, lobstermen and dealers say more bizarrely hued lobsters are being caught.

One explanation for the rise is that the overall lobster harvest has soared in recent years, to more than 100 million pounds in Maine last year, making it likely that more unusual lobsters are being caught.

The popularity of cellphone cameras and social media has also made it easier to spread the word -- and photos -- about strange lobsters.

Normal lobsters are a mottled greenish-brown, but some come in a variety of colors because of genetic variations.

The founder of a group that places service dogs with disabled vets says he went through a 48-hour ordeal at Dulles airport outside Washington, D.C., this week and that not only did United Airlines employees kick his service dog twice, but one staffer actually insulted him in public.

In a detailed YouTube video posted earlier today, Paws and Stripes' Jim Staneck claims that the first kick happened while he was in line at the ticket counter. An employee walked by and was startled by Jim's service dog, which allegedly led to a light kick to the dog's ribcage.

Rather than cause a scene, Jim said he let the incident go.

His flight was then delayed and ultimately cancelled because of mechanical delays, meaning a second day at the airport, where he had originally only intended to spend a short time making his connecting flight.

While riding a shuttle during his second say of fun at Dulles, Jim says that a second, startled United staffer kicked his service dog, this time with some substantial force.

"[He] kicked her so hard on the rib cage, that she flew into my lap… He said he was afraid of dogs," Jim tells KOAT-TV.

Things only got worse when Jim, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and has a traumatic brain injury, had difficulty reading a confirmation e-mail on his phone and asked a United representative to assist him.

"He said, 'Just read it' and I said, 'Sir I can't read it,' and he said, 'What are you retarded?'" recalls Jim. "Prior to this I told him I have a brain injury and PTSD, I'm a disabled vet, this is my second night here; I need help."

Jim says he would like to talk to the CEO of United just to discuss the proper way to handle both disabled customers and their service animals.

NORTH ANDOVER — For the past 9,000 years or so, the hand of man has been heavy on Weir Hill.

Starting around 7000 BC, it is believed the Algonquin Indians started using the site, building fish weirs in Cochichewick Brook and sometimes even burning the property to flush out game or improve the soil for agriculture.

When colonists arrived in the 1600s, they cut timber and cleared the land to make way for livestock pastures.

In the 1700s, the site took on a more industrial use, as hydro power from ponds and streams off Lake Cochichewick was used to power lumber and grist mills.

And in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the property was used for recreation, becoming home to the clubhouse of the North Andover Country Club, where members would gather before paddling across the lake in canoes to play golf.

More recently, the Trustees of Reservations has decided to incorporate much of that history into its management of the property, now an active recreational area, as well as habitat for a growing diversity of plants and animals, in addition to being the source of North Andover’s drinking water.

Weir Hill is in North Andover, just a few minutes from the busy Route 114 business corridor. From Route 114, take Andover Street to Great Pond Road to Stevens Street. Go past the intersection with Pleasant Street and you’ll see parking on either side of the road near a large map kiosk. From 495, take Massachusetts Avenue to Great Pond to Stevens. Parking for a dozen or so cars. Alternate, unofficial entry is from the spillover lot at the Town Beach with access to the Hatch and Alewife trails.

Difficulty: Moderate to difficult, with several hill climbs. Maps are available at the main parking area, and sign posts throughout the park indicate the trails, marked with different colored blazes.

Note to dog owners: Pick up after your dog, ie., do not leave plastic bags of dog feces on the side of the trail. (We did see this on Thursday.) And when you encounter someone without a dog, put your dog on a leash in case the other person is afraid of dogs. Be thoughtful.